CT372 65A/601

Typography for Digital Product Design

Professor: C. J. Yeh
Company website: Cynda Media Lab
Email: chinjuz_yeh@fitnyc.edu
Classroom: C511 (601) D514 (65A)
Office at FIT: D317
Office Hours: Tue 5pm-6pm, Wed 3pm-5pm, Thur 5pm-6pm
Program Portfolio: CT&D @ Behance
Program Channel: CT&D @ YouTube
FIT Help Desk: TechHelp

Course Description

This course explores diverse typographic issues related to screen-based communication. It focuses on new typographic principles and design elements for digital products. Topics covered include readability, on-screen legibility, modular type scales, hierarchy and structure for responsive layout, amplifying meaning and intent through typographic experience, sequence and flow of reading on digital devices, a visual system for interactive design projects, and wayfinding for screens.

Weekly Outline

Tue: 01/31 | Thur:02/02 (w1)

Project 1: Type for Product Concept Communication
Each student team (3 students) will develop an inclusive product design concept through research and ideation, and a design sprint process inspired by Design Thinking methodology. The final deliverable is a project concept presentation and a persuasive case study video to communicate the key value propositions of the product.
Lecture/Discussion: The Future is Inclusive
In-Class Workshop: Quick Fire Research (90 minutes)
– As a team, find 3 problems that you like to solve
– Do preliminary research to find at least 10 to 20 important facts, history, news…etc. per topic
* include links to sources
– Upload the 3 topics and the initial research findings for each topic to Week 1 folder
Homework: Problems Worth Solving
1) Propose three problems as potential topics, and CJ will select one topic for each team to move forward with
2) Continue your research and identity possible target segments that have creative potential (one per student but work as a team so each segmentation has unique potential, upload the target segmentation worksheet before the next class)

Tue: 02/07 | Thur:02/09 (w2)

In-class Exercise: Design Thinking Workshop
Lecture/Discussion: Target Segmentation
Lecture/Discussion: Insight Statement (SEE)
In-class Assignment/Homework: Target Segmentation Worksheet + Insight Statement
1) Continue your research and identity possible target segments that have creative potential (one per student but work as a team so each segmentation has unique potential, upload the target segmentation worksheet before the next class)
2) Draft one insight statement using SEE principle

Tue: 02/14 | Thur:02/16 (w3)

Due: Target Segmentation Worksheet and Insight Statement
Lecture/Discussion: Competitor Analysis
Homework: Competitor Analysis (a minimum of 3 competitors per student, upload before next class)
Lecture/Discussion: JTBD + How Might We (HMW)
In-Class Workshop: JTBD + HMW Questions, complete all 10 questions and select up to 3 questions to work on
Show and Tell: JTBD/HMW Questions
Lecture/Discussion: IDEO’s 7 Rules of Brainstorming
In-Class Workshop: 60 minutes / 100 ideas
Show and Tell: 60 minutes / 100 ideas
Homework: Organize and sort brainstorm results using the Affinity Mapping technique Yes, you can add additional ideas. (upload before the next class)

Tue: 02/21 | Thur:02/23 (w4)

Lecture/Discussion: Minimum Viable Product (MVP)
In-Class Workshop: MVP worksheet
In-class Assignment: Winning Formula EXAMPLE
– Each team will review 10 award-winning Future Lions case study videos and analyze:
1. narrative flow and time allocation
2. key fact(s)
3. target segmentation
4. primary functional/communication goals
5. differentiation
Click here to see past Future Lions winners
In-Class Workshop/Homework: case study script first draft (no more than 2 minutes, roughly 240 words, upload before next class)

Tue: 02/28 | Thur:03/02 (w5)

In-Class Workshop: Presentation of Product MVP and Value Propositions
In-class Workshop / Homework:
– Revise case study script
– Moodboard and Storyboard
– Team review
– Progress Update (upload before next class)

Tue: 03/07 | Thur:03/09 (w6)

In-class Workshop / Homework:
– Case study video design and production
– Team review
– Progress Update (upload before next class)

Tue: 03/14| Thur:03/16 (w7)

In-class Workshop / Homework:
– Case study video design and supportive material production
– Team review
– Progress Update (upload before next class)

Tue: 03/21 | Thur:03/23 (w8)

In-class Workshop / Homework:
– Case study video design and supportive material production
– Team review
– Progress Update (upload before next class)
~~Midterm Presentation: Type for Product Concept Communication (include the process)~~

Tue: 03/28 | Thur:03/30 (w9)

Midterm Presentation: Type for Product Concept Communication (include the process)
Project 2: I AM TYPEFACE (Type as a Digital Product)
Each student will design a screen-based display typeface that expresses and reflects the designer’s personality and/or worldview. Minimum 45 glyphs, ideally 80 glyphs or more. CT&D Typeface Design Scholarship.
Subjectivity
MYRA
Tremor Hands
Mizu
Elevant
Flooid
MEEYA
AOR
Paranoid
Liliun
CHUBS
KORO

Homework: My Favorite Typeface(s), My Inspirations, and Me

——————- Spring Break!!!! ————–

Tue: 04/11 | Thur:04/13 (w10)

Presentation: My Favorite Typeface(s), My Inspirations, and Me
Lecture/Discussion: Functional Typography vs Expressive Typography
In-class Workshop:
– Type Design Brief
Homework:
– Sketch and review classmate works and provides feedback
– Finalize Design Candidates Presentation (minimum 3, upload before next class)

Tue: 04/18 | Thur:04/20 (w11)

Presentation: Design Candidates
Lecture/Discussion: Type Design Fundamentals
In-class Workshop / Homework:
– Typeface design and production begins
– Progress Update (upload before next class)

Tue: 04/25 | Thur:04/27 (w12)

Lecture/Discussion: The Laws of Animation
In-class Workshop / Homework:
– Typeface design and production
– Progress Update (upload before next class)

Tue: 05/02 | Thur:05/04 (w13)

Lecture/Discussion: Screen-based Typography
In-class Workshop / Homework:
– Typeface design and production
– Progress Update (upload before next class)

Tue: 05/09 | Thur:05/11 (w14)

In-class Workshop / Homework:
– Typeface design and production
– Progress Update (upload before next class)

Tue: 05/16 | Thur:05/18 (w15)

Final Presentation: I am TYPEFACE

Attendance Policy

Attendance is not optional. If you are going to miss a class, you must contact me via email ASAP. Due to the quantity of material covered in the course, I will not be able to spend class time explaining missed assignments or redoing lectures. If a class is missed, it is your responsibility to get information regarding missed assignments and lectures from one of your classmates.

Students are required to attend all classes, be on time, and remain for the entire class.
Students who miss three classes will receive a grade of “F.”
The student who arrives 10 minutes after the start of the class will be considered late
2 late occurrences = one absence
A student who arrives over 30 minutes late or not returning from the break will be considered absent from the class
Working on projects for another class or using digital devices for socializing (texting, social media…etc.) or gaming during class time will be recorded as an absence
An excused absence is still recorded as an absence. The difference is an excused absence won’t impact your grade for professionalism and class participation.

Grading

Professionalism and Class Participation: 20%
Check Point Reviews: 46%
First Project Presentation: 14%
Final Project Presentation: 20%
(A: 91% or above, B: 90% – 71%, C: 70% – 61%, D: 60% – 51%, F: 50% or below)

Uploading Files for Final Grades

CT372 601
CT372 65A
* Upload and keep all project and process files throughout the semester for final grading. The process is just as important as the final outcome.

CT&D Policy on Plagiarism

Within the CT&D, plagiarism, and other forms of academic deception are unacceptable. Each instance of plagiarism is distinct. A plagiarism violation is an automatic justification for an “F” on that assignment and/or an “F” for the course. A student found in violation of FIT’s Code of Conduct and deemed to receive an “F” for a course may not withdraw from the course prior to final grade assignments.

CT&D Recording Classroom Activities Policy

I. Introduction
Written permission is required in order to record classroom lectures, discussions, presentations (“lectures”), or other activities. When granted, permission to record lectures is subject to the limitations set forth in this policy. Violations of this policy may constitute copyright infringement in violation of federal or state law and may be subject to disciplinary action.

II. Definitions
A. Course Materials mean lecture notes, outlines, slides, Powerpoint presentations, readings, or other content made available to students by the instructor or presenter, or through any online learning system.

B. Recording means a video or audio replication or photographic image recorded on devices including, but not limited to, audio recorders, video recorders, cell phones, Smartphones, digital cameras, media players, computers, or other devices that record images or sound.

III. Requirements and Limitations

A. Written Permission
Recording of classroom lectures is prohibited unless advance written permission is obtained from the class instructor and any guest presenter(s). An instructor may provide such permission to an entire class as part of the course syllabus or other written description of a course. Students who require recording or other adaptations of lectures as a reasonable accommodation for a disability in advance of the lecture in order to obtain permission for the recording.

In the event permission to record classroom lectures is granted, the professor may notify all students, speakers, and other lecture attendees in advance that recording may occur. Every effort should be made to protect the confidentiality of a student with a disability who is being granted accommodation, i.e. the professor will not name the student who is doing the recording when it is due to disability accommodation.

Students must destroy recordings at the end of the semester in which they are enrolled in the class.

FIT Student Code of Conduct
Student Disability Services
Academic Honesty and Integrity Policy
FIT’s Course Withdrawal Policy
Children on campus policy
FIT-ABLE
Academic Advisement Center
FIT Writing & Speaking Studio
FIT Counseling Services
Academic Skills Tutoring Center
Dean of Students Office
Technical Support for Blackboard with Open SUNY Help Desk

Grade appeal process: http://www.fitnyc.edu/registrar/grades/appeal.php for more information.

Library Resources: FIT Library Databases

Academic Advisement Center: http://www.fitnyc.edu/academic-advisement/index.php

Technical Requirements: High-speed internet and Adobe CC

Textbooks and Required Materials: Lecture slides will be provided every week after class,